Has your current position progressed to your liking or are you more happy with the status quo?
This question stands to potentially inform your interviewer of several things. Your answer might provide insights into the condition under which you left your current or previous position. It might suggest whether you are an overachieving career-minded professional interested in development and growth, and your leadership potential. Or, your answer might suggest you are resistant to change, avoid challenging situations, prefer the status quo, and have little to no ambition to move beyond your current station.
"Change is a constant for me in my current company, and that's the way I like it. And, I made that known when I started with the company that I have ambitious career goals, and that I was determined to reach them. My role does not look the same at all, and I am thankful for the growth opportunity that my current company has offered me. I was a junior-level operator when I started 8 years ago. Today, I am responsible for leading a team of 8 operators. I am awarded new responsibilities regularly and have earned the trust they've given me. It seems I am almost always training new employees, hosting lunch and learns, and occasionally writing or revising policy. This pace of growth complements me well. But I am now interested in steering my career in a direction different from what my current company can facilitate and am excited to explore further the variety of career and developmental opportunities Teck Resources has to offer."
Whether you have progressed professionally or been promoted as swiftly as you would have preferred, focus on the positives when answering this question. Use this as an opportunity to advertise which of their recruiting efforts enticed you to make this career move and pursue a position with them. For example, on their careers site, they answer the question, "Why Work at Teck? Find challenging work assignments and excellent opportunities for career and professional growth with Canada's largest diversified natural resource company. Growth: Teck offers the chance to chart your own career journey through different operations and business units across the globe while working to solve rewarding challenges. From site to head office, there's no limit to how far your ideas and passion can take you. Grow at Teck. We believe in supporting and investing in our employees so they can see the world and change it."
Fifty percent of your interview preparation is researching the company you are interested in working for, and the other fifty percent of preparation is researching yourself, and determining if it seems like a good fit. Think back on your career progression, outline your career progression to date, and the timeline of overcoming your career goals and developmental milestones. Make a list of any entrusted responsibilities, promotions, and accomplishments that advertise your competence and attest to your success in your role.
Community answers are written by other candidates practicing this set. Reading how others frame the same question is one of the fastest ways to sharpen your own.
Anonymous Answer
In my last job, I started as a warehouseman. Later I was able to train and mentor new employees in the areas of equipment use and also the company software for daily operations.
Jaymie's Feedback
This is a good start! Can you include more details on the position, how long you were in each role, if you were promoted, etc.? If you can also be more specific about the number of employees you trained and mentored, that helps paint a more clear picture of the scope of your responsibilities.
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